GCNM Adoption Application

On-line Adoption Information
and Application

Dear Prospective Adopter:
Thank you for considering adopting a racing greyhound as a pet. We hope that you will join the growing number of people who report that their adopted greyhound is one of the nicest and most loving pets they have ever had.

The following information should be helpful to you as you consider adopting a greyhound. After reading this, if you have any questions, please call 1-505-899-3245 or e-mail us at info@gcnm.org.

Greyhounds placed through GCNM are usually between two and five years old. They stand between 26 and 29 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh between 50 and 80 pounds, females generally being smaller than males. Greyhounds come in a variety of colors including black, red, blue, fawn, various shades of brindle and all of those colors broken with white.

The greyhound’s devotion to his owner is legendary. Greyhounds are grateful for their new homes and reward their adopters with never-ending affection. During their careers as racers, they are kept in an environment where they get minimal individual attention and because of this, they thrive on being the center of attention in their adoptive homes.

Greyhound adoption is a serious responsibility and our policy is to ensure that anyone who adopts a greyhound will be capable of and willing to accept that responsibility. You will need to complete an adoption application and agree to a home visit by one of our adoption representatives.

We feel your success as a greyhound adopter is significantly increased if you prepare yourself with as much information as possible. These dogs are unique in many ways and one should not assume that because they have had other breeds, the retired racer will be similar.

The following are additional requirements:

The greyhound is to be kept as a personal or family pet and provided humane treatment and proper care and be a housedog.
The greyhound must be vaccinated against rabies and all canine diseases recognized as threats in the area where you live.
The greyhound must be licensed as required by the county or city.
The greyhound must wear identification at all times. GCNM provides an ID tag to be worn along with your ID tag so that should the dog become lost, there is a back-up number to call.
The adopter agrees to notify GCNM should the dog become lost so that we can assist you in relocating your greyhound as quickly as possible.
The greyhound must be kept on a leash whenever not in an enclosed area. (Barbed wire or other three or four-wire fencing typically used on rangelands is not considered an enclosed area.)
The greyhound must be returned to GCNM should the adopter be, for any reason, unable or unwilling to keep it as a pet.

ADOPTION DONATION
GCNM asks adopters to make a donation of $175.00 at the time they obtain their pet. This assists us in paying our veterinary bills for the sterilization, microchipping, dental care, heartworm test, and vaccinations for each dog and various other veterinary expenses we incur in rehabilitating some of the dogs with injuries or illness. GCNM is a certified, non-profit organization comprised exclusively of unpaid volunteers and depends entirely upon contributions to continue providing veterinary and foster care and placement services for greyhounds that would otherwise be destroyed. GCNM is a nationally recognized greyhound placement program that is eligible for funding through the greyhound racing industry, however because we feel this is a conflict of interest, we have chosen not to accept any such funding. GCNM has grave concerns for the future health of retired racing greyhounds and is involved in research to determine causes of disease and illness in retired racers. We also publish a quarterly newsletter to keep our adopters and area veterinarians informed.

YOUR REWARD!
After the initial period of adjustment, you will find that your adopted greyhound has become a loving, faithful companion and an enthusiastic, comical member of the family. You will then have joined the growing number of people who have learned that greyhounds can become the most wonderful of animal companions!

Adoption Application

The ownership of a greyhound, like any pet, is a serious responsibility that requires a long-term commitment. It is the goal of GREYHOUND COMPANIONS OF NEW MEXICO (GCNM) to be sure that this responsibility, as well as the financial, psychological, and physical needs of each greyhound, are met in its new home. This application has been designed to help prospective greyhound adopters address the issues that would directly affect their home and its suitability for a greyhound, as well as aid our staff in application evaluation.

Please print out and read all articles in Greyhound Behavior & Health prior to completing the application to adopt. This is a requirement for adopting a greyhound through GCNM. For your convenience, all the articles as well as the adoption application can also be downloaded as a single pdf-file by clicking here.

Due to the length of this application, your computer may disconnect you before you complete the questions. If you experience this, please print out application, complete, and mail to:
GCNM, PO Box 22053, Albuquerque, NM 87154-2053

PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.

Your Name:		CO-Applicant's Name
Occupation:		Occupation:
Work Phone:		Work Phone:
E-Mail Address:		E-Mail Address:
Home Address - Physical Location:
City:		State: Zip:
Mailing Address, if Different from Physical Location:
City:		State: Zip:
Home Phone:
Number of Children at Home:		Children's ages:
Number and Kinds of Pets at Home

Brief description of current dogs personality and ages(s):
Why do you want to adopt a greyhound?
What characteristics do you desire in a greyhound (sex, age, size, etc.)?
How did you learn about GCNM?

THE NEXT SECTION IS DESIGNED TO AID US IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE PROPER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR NECESSARY CARE FOR THE GREYHOUND.

Where do you live:
House Mobile Home Apartment Condominium Other (explain)

Do you: Own Rent How many years at present address?

If you rent or lease, you must have written permission from your landlord. Please provide landlord's name, address, and phone:

Name:
Address:
City:		State: Zip:
Phone:

Is your yard fenced?

Yes No

If yes, Note the approx. size of fenced area: height: and type of fencing material:

If your yard is not fenced, would you be willing to fence all or part of it as a condition of adoption?

Yes No

Are you willing to keep your greyhound on a leash or in a fenced area when outdoors? (Dangers such as barbed wire fences, traffic, etc. are a particular threat to greyhounds since they can become so fixated on a distant moving object they may want to chase.)

Yes No

Are you willing and able to modify your daily schedule to accommodate a greyhound's needs, such as going outdoors into a fenced area or walking on a leash to perform bodily functions at least four times a day?

Yes No

How many hours would the dog be alone each day?

Do you own or have access to an airline kennel, dog cage or crate?

Yes No

Are you willing to kennel/crate the dog when it is alone? (This is occasionally necessary during the adaptation period or for especially insecure greyhounds)

Yes No

Greyhounds must live indoors. They cannot adequately be kept in an outdoor kennel or doghouse. Do you agree to keep your pet inside your home unless for play, exercise and relieving itself?

Yes No

Are you willing to keep a collar with identification tags on your greyhound at all times?

Yes No

Are you willing and able to accept full and immediate responsibility for the ownership of a greyhound, including all health-care costs and necessary burdens and responsibilities of owning a pet?

Yes No

Are you willing to spend time playing with or exercising your greyhound?

Yes No

If, for any reason, you are unable to keep our greyhound, will you agree to return it to GCNM?

Yes No

How would you describe your household activity level?
Very Quiet Lots of activity Moderate Activity Fairly Easygoing

Would you object to an inspection of your home and premises by a GCNM representative?

Yes No

Occasionally, a greyhound with special needs (moderate to excessive shyness, minimal physical restrictions due to old racing injury, older than usual retirement age, etc.) is available for adoption. Would you be interested in being considered for such a dog?

Yes No

Do you currently have a veterinarian?

Yes No

If yes,

Name:
Address:
City:		State: Zip:
Phone:

THE FOLLOWING SECTION IS DESIGNED TO GIVE US SOME IDEA OF YOUR PAST AND PRESENT EXPERIENCE IN KEEPING AND CARING FOR DOGS.

Have you previously owned a dog?	Yes No
If yes, what breed(s)?
How was the dog(s) obtained? (i.e., breeder, rescue from pound/humane society, pet store)
What were the ages when dog(s) obtained?
What became of the dog(s)
Have you ever bred or raised dogs?	Yes No
Have you ever trained a dog?	Yes No
If yes, what method and what commands?
Do you know all the laws and covenants in your area regarding dogs?	Yes No
Please add any additional information or thoughts that you feel would help us understand you and your home as a potential greyhound home.

I understand that in order to complete processing this application, a visit to my home will be scheduled by a representative of GCNM, and that by submitting this application, I agree to such a scheduled visit. I also certify that all information on this greyhound adoption application is true and correct.

I have read all articles contained within the Greyhound Behavior section of the GCNM web site and agree to follow their recommendations and rules for adopting and providing care for the greyhound(s).

Authorization of this application is accepted by filling out your full name(s) below.

Applicant (must be over age 18)

Co-Applicant (must be over age 18)

(Where it applies, we require a spouse's or roommate's authorization on this application as certification that the adoption of a greyhound has been approved and accepted by both parties.)

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